U.S. patent application number 12/638048 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-16 for method of printing a lottery ticket with a scratch-off layer defining a multi-color pattern.
Invention is credited to Robert Anderson, Gerald Cormier, Tyson Kaus, Lyle Scrymgeour.
Application Number | 20110140408 12/638048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44142060 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110140408 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scrymgeour; Lyle ; et
al. |
June 16, 2011 |
METHOD OF PRINTING A LOTTERY TICKET WITH A SCRATCH-OFF LAYER
DEFINING A MULTI-COLOR PATTERN
Abstract
A lottery ticket has game data printed on a substrate in a game
data area either directly onto the substrate or onto a covering
layer where the game data area is firstly covered by a scratch-off
layer which contains a white pigment following which the
scratch-off layer is covered by a plurality of layers of ink each
of which contains pigment defining different colors for the
different layers and which are different from the white pigment of
the scratch-off layer so as to form a four color pattern. The
scratch-off layer and the inks are sufficiently transparent to view
the game data therethrough so that the removal of the scratch-off
layer and the inks acts to mark the game data by showing it in a
different color from the original view through the layers.
Inventors: |
Scrymgeour; Lyle; (Oakbank,
CA) ; Anderson; Robert; (San Antonio, TX) ;
Cormier; Gerald; (Winnipeg, CA) ; Kaus; Tyson;
(Winnipeg, CA) |
Family ID: |
44142060 |
Appl. No.: |
12/638048 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
283/67 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/0665 20130101;
A63F 3/0655 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
283/67 |
International
Class: |
B42D 15/00 20060101
B42D015/00 |
Claims
1. A method of printing a lottery ticket comprising: providing a
substrate; printing game data in a game data area either directly
onto the substrate or onto a covering layer over the substrate;
covering the game data area with a scratch-off layer which contains
a pigment providing a color; covering the scratch-off layer with a
plurality of layers of ink each of which contains pigment defining
different colors for the different layers and which are different
from the color of the scratch-off layer; the scratch-off layer and
the inks being sufficiently transparent to view the game data
therethrough; and printing a multi-color pattern over the game data
area by selecting the colors of the pigments such that all of the
colors contribute to the colors of the pattern.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the game data is printed
onto a white lily pad applied onto the substrate.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the colors of the
pigments are selected to provide a four color printing system.
4. The method according to claim 1 including visually determining
whether the scratch-off layer is located in correct position on the
ticket during printing by observing the pigment in the scratch-off
layer.
5. A method of printing a lottery ticket comprising: providing a
substrate; printing game data in a game data area either directly
onto the substrate or onto a covering layer over the substrate;
covering the game data area with a scratch-off layer which contains
a white pigment; covering the scratch-off layer with a plurality of
layers of ink each of which contains pigment defining different
colors for the different layers and which are different from the
white pigment of the scratch-off layer; the scratch-off layer and
the inks being sufficiently transparent to view the game data
therethrough.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the game data is printed
onto a white lily pad applied onto the substrate.
7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the game data is printed
in an ink which is pigmented such that it is visible on the white
lily pad and such that the white scratch-off layer applied over the
game data changes the appearance of the game data sufficiently to
be immediately visually apparent when the scratch-off layer is
removed.
8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the game data is printed
in black ink.
9. The method according to claim 5 wherein the colors of the
pigments are selected to provide a four color printing system.
10. The method according to claim 5 including visually determining
whether the scratch-off layer is located in correct position on the
ticket during printing by observing the pigment in the scratch-off
layer.
11. A method of printing a lottery ticket comprising: providing a
substrate; printing game data in a game data area either directly
onto the substrate or onto a covering layer over the substrate;
covering the game data area with a scratch-off layer which contains
a white pigment; covering the scratch-off layer with a single layer
of ink containing colored pigment different in color from the white
pigment of the scratch-off layer; the scratch-off layer and the ink
being sufficiently transparent to view the game data
therethrough.
12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the game data is
printed onto a white lily pad applied onto the substrate.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the game data is
printed in an ink which is pigmented such that it is visible on the
white lily pad and such that the white scratch-off layer applied
over the game data changes the appearance of the game data
sufficiently to be immediately visually apparent when the
scratch-off layer is removed.
14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the game data is
printed in black ink.
15. The method according to claim 11 including visually determining
whether the scratch-off layer is located in correct position on the
ticket during printing by observing the pigment in the scratch-off
layer.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a method of printing a lottery
ticket with a scratch-off layer defining a multi-color pattern.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In printing multi-color patterns typically a four color
process is used four inks are used which are three secondary colors
of cyan, magenta and yellow; plus black. These inks are
semi-transparent or translucent. Where two such inks overlap on the
paper due to sequential printing impressions, a primary color is
perceived. For example, yellow (minus blue) overprinted by magenta
(minus green) yields red. Where all three inks may overlap, almost
all incident light is absorbed or subtracted, yielding near black.
It is because of this poor "subtractive" black that a separate
black ink is used.
[0003] Two graphic techniques are required to prepare images for
four-color printing. In the "pre-press" stage, original images are
translated into forms that can be used on a printing press, through
"color separation," and "screening" or "half-toning." Application
of the inks can be carried out by conventional printing plates or
by variable imaging techniques well known to persons skilled in
this art.
[0004] These techniques have been applied in the manufacture of
lottery tickets with four color patterns printed onto the ticket
either at the area of the game data or in other areas or both.
[0005] One form of lottery ticket requires that the player be able
to enter visual marks on the ticket by removing a scratch-off layer
so that the underlying material is visible, with the ticket having
a different color appearance with the scratch-off layer in place
from that with the scratch-off layer removed. This technique is
typically used in bingo-type games but can also be used in other
games where the ticket needs to be "marked".
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,815 (Pollard) issued Mar. 16, 1993 to
Pollard Banknote discloses a game card to be marked such as a bingo
card for playing at an instant bingo game which includes four
separate bingo playing areas each of which is in the form of a
bingo card with the numbers printed thereon in conventional manner.
On top of each of the second playing areas is applied a translucent
coat of a scratchable material which is pigmented so as to modify
the appearance of the underlying color of the area. The playing
area can therefore be marked in relation to those numbers appearing
on the first area simply by scratching away the translucent layer
to provide a visual distinction. The game card is simple and
effective and requires printing of the playing numbers only once as
they can be viewed through the translucent layer.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,860 (Holman) issued Jun. 20, 2000 to
Oberthur Gaming Technologies and now assigned to Scientific Games
discloses a similar scratch-off lottery game including a substrate
having at least one area having printed indicia thereon. In this
case, instead of the covering material forming a translucent
pigmented coat of a scratchable material, the printed indicia are
covered by a clear transparent layer which can be removed by
scratching, and a layer on top of the clear transparent layer which
is colored, transparent and made of a non-scratch-off material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is one object of the invention to provide an improved
lottery ticket of this general type.
[0009] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
method of printing a lottery ticket comprising:
[0010] providing a substrate;
[0011] printing game data in a game data area either directly onto
the substrate or onto a covering layer over the substrate;
[0012] covering the game data area with a scratch-off layer which
contains a pigment providing a color;
[0013] covering the scratch-off layer with a plurality of layers of
ink each of which contains pigment defining different colors for
the different layers and which are different from the color of the
scratch-off layer;
[0014] the scratch-off layer and the inks being sufficiently
transparent to view the game data therethrough;
[0015] and printing a multi-color pattern over the game data area
by selecting the colors of the pigments such that all of the colors
contribute to the colors of the pattern.
[0016] White is the preferred color for the scratch-off layer
because of its reflective properties. White provides the optimal
base on which to print overlaying colors. White reflects back all
colors while avoiding absorbing some of the color. This achieves
the best color reproduction.
[0017] By contrast, the worst color would be black because it does
not reflect well and would further interfere with the legibility of
the letters and numbers below, which must remain legible in order
for the player to be able to play the game properly.
[0018] Other colors could be used. For example a yellow, however
this selection would impact on the color of the overlying layers as
viewed by the eye. Even if a light yellow is selected, a magenta
layer printed above would tend to turn orange. When using a color
other than white, at the separation stage, where the colors for the
pattern are selected, some color correction can be done which would
help to reduce the impact.
[0019] A further benefit of applying a white or an alternate color
layer, different from clear material, is that it enables to the
press operators, during setup, to visually determine whether the
scratch-off layer is being located in correct position on the
ticket and to then monitor the registration of multiple elements of
the printed layers including the lily pad, variable data and
scratch-off throughout the run. An area formed instead by a clear
material, by contrast, is difficult to see and can result in
misregistration of the critical elements.
[0020] For example in the above Holman patent there is risk that
the clear scratch-off layer is not located in the proper position
and when the non-scratchable overprint colors are applied they are
not applied over the scratch-off layer and hence are not removable.
This fault causes the player high levels of frustration because
they cannot properly play to the game to mark and identify easily
where they have matched a letter or number.
[0021] Another advantage of the method herein is that the use of
scratchable overprinting colors allows the player to still play the
game properly even if the white or alternate scratch-off layer has
been misprinted or is not present on the ticket. If the scratch-off
layer is missing the combined colors of the overprinting layer will
change from those intended but the ticket remains playable.
[0022] Another advantage of this construction is that the color in
the scratch-off layer co-operates with the colors in the printed
inks to provide the finished pattern thus reducing costs and
providing increased alternatives for the pattern thus obtaining a
synergistic effect.
[0023] Preferably the game data is printed onto a white lily pad
applied onto the substrate.
[0024] Preferably the colors of the pigments are selected to
provide a four color printing system.
[0025] Preferably the method includes visually determining whether
the scratch-off layer is located in correct position on the ticket
during printing by observing the pigment in the scratch-off
layer.
[0026] According to a second aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of printing a lottery ticket comprising:
[0027] providing a substrate;
[0028] printing game data in a game data area either directly onto
the substrate or onto a covering layer over the substrate;
[0029] covering the game data area with a scratch-off layer which
contains a white pigment;
[0030] covering the scratch-off layer with a plurality of layers of
ink each of which contains pigment defining different colors for
the different layers and which are different from the white pigment
of the scratch-off layer;
[0031] the scratch-off layer and the inks being sufficiently
transparent to view the game data therethrough.
[0032] Preferably the game data is printed in an ink which is
pigmented such that it is visible on the white lily pad and such
that the white scratch-off layer applied over the game data changes
the appearance of the game data sufficiently to be immediately
visually apparent when the scratch-off layer is removed. Preferably
the game data is printed in black ink.
[0033] Thus the key point of this application relates to the game
area covered by a multi-colored overprint design through which the
data to match can be seen.
[0034] It will be appreciated that this concept may include a
series of such game areas on a single ticket which changes color to
indicate that the number has been matched and scratched. Also
typically each ticket will include a data matching element where
the numbers to be matched are set out generally covered by a player
removable opaque covering such as a scratch-off layer. However this
is not essential and a number of other game formats are
possible.
[0035] In practice it is possible to provide only the one game data
area covered by translucent scratch-off. Such tickets are played in
conjunction with externally supplied numbers, letters or symbols to
match. For example the player can buy a bingo card with the
translucent covering only and can watch a TV show at a prescribed
time to determine what the matching numbers are. Play can be a
normal Bingo and if there is a winner the player presents their
card to a lottery retailer for validation.
[0036] Alternatively, the ticket can be given out for free and the
player is required to visit a store each week to obtain the numbers
to match through a poster or by collecting another card with the
numbers printed on it.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] One embodiment of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view through a ticket
manufactured according to the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a method of ticket
manufacture according to the present invention.
[0040] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] In FIG. 2 is shown the method for manufacturing the ticket
of FIG. 1. This provides a method in which a substrate strip 10 is
supplied and passed through a printing line 11. The printing line
is arranged to print a number of separate layers as follows:
[0042] a) A white lily pad 12 is printed at a first step 13 to
define a secure area on the card for the game to be applied.
[0043] b) Game data 14 is printed at a second step 15 by variable
image printing using known techniques in the game data area onto
the lily pad defining a covering layer over the substrate.
[0044] c) Typically a varnish or other fixing layers are applied at
16 over the game data to ensure that it is not removed in
scratching.
[0045] d) A scratch-off layer 18 is printed at a step 17. The
scratch-off layer contains the pigment providing a color.
[0046] e) The scratch-off layer 18 is covered with a plurality of
layers shown at 19 printed in a step 20 of ink each of which
contains pigment defining different colors for the different layers
and which are different from the color of the scratch-off
layer.
[0047] The layers 19 provide a multi-color pattern over the game
data area by selecting the colors of the pigments using the
computer control 21 such that all of the colors contribute to the
colors of the pattern.
[0048] The colors of the pigments in the multi-color layer 19 are
selected to provide a four color printing system.
[0049] The scratch-off layer 18 and the inks of the layer 19 are
sufficiently transparent to view the game data therethrough.
[0050] In playing the game, the player removes the layers 18 and 19
in those areas what the player wishes to mark in that the lily pad
and game data when viewed directly with the layers 18 and 19
removed appears visually distinct from the lily pad and game data
when viewed through those layers.
[0051] During printing the operator acts to visually determine
whether the scratch-off layer is located in correct position on the
ticket during printing by observing the pigment in the scratch-off
layer as it is applied over the lily pad.
[0052] The method used for the overprinting of the scratch-off
material 18 uses process printing which is based on the application
of colored inks, either Cyan/Magenta/Yellow (three color Process)
or with the addition of Black (four color Process). Process inks
allow for viewing of the underlying layers through the top colored
layer and these colors combine visually to create a broad range of
colors to be seen within a printed image. For example where the
yellow color overlays the color seen is green.
[0053] While process inks can be run in solid form, which creates a
limited number of additional colors, typically the images being
printed are screened or separated at step 23 to different
intensities to create a broader range of colors. The most common
screen method would be "half tones", a method that results in dots
of varying size being printed across the image. Once an original
image is prepared, the various colors in the photograph, artwork,
design, etc. are separated into either the three base colors (CYM)
or 4 base colors (CYMK). Separation can be done in various ways but
is primarily electronically. Once the image is separated, if the
image is to be printed on a printing press, printing plates are
prepared for each of the base colors to be printed.
[0054] The three or four printing plates each contain the dots, in
varying sizes, including solids, required to reproduce the colored
image as was created during the separation process. Additional
colors can be added for special effects. In addition to the images
to be applied over the translucent scratch-off layer, the same
plates may contain the dots patterns required to print the other
graphic elements in the overall ticket design.
[0055] Thus during the printing process, which could be offset,
flexo, gravure, etc. or a combination thereof, the substrate is
printed with various layers designed to produce a secure ticket.
Typically layers, which are applied prior to the application of the
scratch-off and graphic images would include lily pad(s), digital
imaging, seal-coat(s) and protective varnish.
[0056] Once the varnish is applied over the Player's area, the next
layer is a translucent scratch-off. This scratch-off contains
pigments which provide color to the layer but at a level which
allows the underlying digital data to remain visible. Typically
this layer will be white but other colors can be used. If an
alternative color is being used the overprinting colors have to
adjusted in the separation process 23 to accommodate the change.
For example if a light yellow is used color values have to be
adjusted.
[0057] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
herein above described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that
all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *